WHAT: A Belsnickle figure about 12 inches high that sold for $275 recently at Morphy Auctions had its origins in the German βPelz Nichol,β which translates to βNicholas in fur.β The term later morphed into Belsnickle (with differing spellings). In the collecting world, the term refers to a 19th-century molded papier mΓ’chΓ© Santa figure with a stern face, a long white beard, and a fir tree in the crook of his arm.
MORE: First made in Germany, original Belsnickles are usually covered with mica flakes. Value is determined by size, condition and overall aesthetics.
SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: There have been three iterations of the Santa figure: Belsnickle, illustrator Thomas Nastβs version of Santa, and the jolly Santa created in the 1930s by Haddon Sundblom for Coca-Cola ads.
HOT TIP: Original German Belsnickles follow traditional color schemes.
BOTTOM LINE: Christmas as we know it came to America via German immigrants. As the oldest version of a Santa figure, early and original Belsnickles are prized by Christmas collectors. Caveat: The form has been copied, but most reproductions and fakes are easy to spot. Later Belsnickles from the first half of the 20th century are trickier.
